The Obama Administration is starting to look like the “team of rivals” that the President-elect talked about during the campaign.  “Team of rivals” is a reference to the book of the same name by Doris Kearns Goodwin in which the administration of Lincoln is profiled.  During the campaign, Obama has stated that he intended to tap both Democrats and Republicans for cabinet posts and it appears that may be the case.  Current Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is expected to be asked to stay for the Obama Administration while the new president inherits the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Other prominent Republicans who have been rumored to be in line for positions include Senator Chuck Hagel, Senator Richard Luger, and former Secretary of State Colin Powell.  Hagel has previously denied interest in a cabinet post but others remain possible picks.

President-elect Obama’s fiercest rival and  Democratic Primary opponent Senator Hillary Clinton has apparently accepted the post of Secretary of State.  While some may see this as Obama selling out, I like to see this as Obama’s strong confidence in his leadership and knowledge that it is his foreign policy agenda that Secretary Clinton will promote.  It also shows how Obama wants top people in his administration despite some disagreements.  Clinton had voted for the Iraq War when Obama had opposed it and attacked Obama on his limited foreign policy experience during the primary.  In a similar fashion, Obama urged Senate leaders not to punish Senator Lieberman who had supported Senator McCain and attacked Obama during the election.  Lieberman practically owes the rest of his Senate career to the President-elect because now he will retain his chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security Committee and Obama knows it.  The mantra of “keep your friends close and your enemies closer” may serve to help Obama in the future.